In January, 1963, a recovering alcoholic named Betty rented a basement apartment at the corner of Division and Astor Streets in Chicago, Illinois. The apartment was ill-furnished. There were three chairs, including a lawn chair and a three-legged milking stool, and a coffee pot. But it was enough to hold an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Which Betty did daily, beginning the Sunday after New Years. They named their new facility "The Mustard Seed." Thirty-nine years later, the meetings have grown. They've outgrown that basement and at least two other meeting places. They have outgrown their old facility, a converted firehouse at 1244 North Wells.
They've also grown in frequency. There are now more than 50 meetings a week at the Mustard Seed and its fame has spread throughout Chicago, the nation, and even the world. People from around the corner and around the world have attended meetings here. No alcoholic ever needs to go out and drink; they are always welcome at the Mustard Seed. Persons of all walks of life races, creeds, and sexual preferences have reclaimed ruined lives and fortunes with the Mustard Seed's help. Men, women, even children (at open meetings) have been welcome in these doors. The average age of the alcoholic coming in has changed (as it has throughout the Program) and more young people attend meetings here. But the old-timers and those who took longer to find what we offer also populate the meetings. We all value each other and the contribution each of us makes.
The Mustard Seed is run by volunteers. An elected Board of Directors makes independent decisions about finances, fundraising, administration, and other issues. At the Mustard Seed dollar bills are placed in baskets at meetings, but more importantly sustenance comes from faith. Each alcoholic knows that sobriety comes only through the grace of God and the fellowship of AA. Thousands find inspiration at the Mustard Seed each week.
NEWS received 12.2006:
Elizabeth Younger, 79; service set
Elizabeth Rowland “Betty” Younger, 79, Morehead City, left this life to join her
Lord and savior on Thursday afternoon, Nov. 30, 2006, at 1:42 p.m., surrounded
by friends at her home.
A celebration of her life will be held 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Luke Missionary
Baptist Church with the Rev. John H. Grayson officiating.
Daughter of the late John L. Younger and the late Elizabeth Rowland Younger,
“Betty Y,” as she always referred to herself, was born in
Philadelphia, Pa., where she attended local schools and graduated from
the Agnes Irving School in 1946. Her summers were spent in
Cape May,
N.J., where she developed her theatrical talent in summer stock. Ms. Younger
was the founder and director of the Mustard Seed in
Chicago,
a place for faith and sobriety. Through this mission she continued to positively
influence numbers of people throughout the years to the present. Following the
Chicago
experience, she spent three years in Raleigh, working with Mutual of
Omaha.
In 1978, wishing to return to the Atlantic Coast, she became a resident of
Morehead City, where she worked in a variety of positions, including Trinity
Camp and Conference Center of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina, Gull
Island Realty, Morehead City Yacht Club and as a companion to Mrs. Skeets
Jackson. At her retirement, she became an accomplished golfer, traveling to a
number of golf tournaments. Her hospitality and enthusiasm for entertaining were
legendary, creating friends from all walks of life.
The family will receive friends following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Carteret
County, Inc., P.O. Drawer 1619,
Morehead
City, NC 28557, or to The Mustard Seed,
507 West North Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60610.
The online obituary and Internet condolences can be accessed through
brooksfuneralhomeandcrematory.com.
Arrangements are by Brooks Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. of Morehead City.
“Nothing can be so bad…..that a drink won’t make worse.”
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